Texas State fares well in 2007 legislative session

Posted by Jayme Blaschke University News Service May 30, 2007

Texas State was quite successful in the recent legislative session. Now it’s time to celebrate! Some of the specifics:

PROGRAMS: The state budget approved by the legislature includes $1 million per year in start-up funding in 2008 and 2009 for a nursing program at the Round Rock Higher Education Center. This funding will complement the recent $6 million gift from the St. David’s Community Health Foundation, as well as gifts from Scott & White and Central Texas Medical Center, and allow us to help the state and nation meet a critical need for nurses.

FACILITIES: The budget also includes funding that will allow us to begin construction on our Undergraduate Academic Center west of Nueces and Retama Halls and on a second building at Round Rock that will house the nursing program. The $6.3 million in the budget pays the debt service on Tuition Revenue Bonds that will be issued for the construction. (We had received approval to issue the bonds in the last special session in 2005, but no funding to pay the debt service.)

OPERATING: The state budget increased our regular operating appropriations by approximately $1 million, mostly as the result of enrollment growth since the 2005 legislative session.

SALARIES: Texas State employees, like employees at all state colleges and universities, were excluded from the appropriated state employee pay raise of 2% or $50 per month. However, Texas State will fund a merit raise pool equal to 3 percent of total salaries from our own resources.

Special thanks to all Texas State employees who worked hard in following the session and providing information needed by our lawmakers and to those who represent us in the legislature. The new facilities are particularly welcome!